Grocery Store Etiquette

I love to cook. In contrast, I hate to grocery shop. The reason I hate to grocery shop is because the very act of shopping puts me in direct contact with a large group of people who for the most part do not understand etiquette or general politeness. In short, excuse me for saying so, but they are RUDE! It is beyond my understanding how simply laying ones hands on the handle of the shopping cart, sucks any and all common sense from shoppers. All of a sudden the average Joe shopper becomes TJ Floyd Nascar driver.

They should make shopping cart driving a required course for all shoppers. Just like driving a car one should steer their shopping cart on the right hand side of the isle. Not the middle, not the left, and heaven forbid if you should be a swerver. You know, the rude driver who swerves in and out of all the other shoppers in an effort to not have to wait patiently. If for some reason you have to stop to think about an item please make sure you don't leave your cart in the middle of the isle. Pull it over tightly to your right and keep out of the way of everyone else who needs to continue on their way down the isle. If the store is busy and you are traveling on the right side of the isle but you need something on the left side, proceed to the end of the isle, turn around and go back down. Otherwise you are blocking other shoppers from getting to their things in an efficient manner.

If your child is screaming or uncooperative just leave the store. You can come back some other time and save the rest of us a headache.

I do not want to hear all the icky details of your life by listening to you talk on your cell phone or walkie talkie. Save it for when you are back in your car and no one can hear you. It is terribly rude to talk on the phone while you are checking out. You owe the clerk your full attention.